Exerciser



Dec. 11, 1962 M. A. PORTMAN ETAL 3,063,003

EXERCISER Filed May 11, 1961 INVENTORS. MER L A'. PORTMAN a HAR J. BALNE their ATTORNEYS Unit States This invention relates to a compact exerciser readily adjustable to a wide variety of exercises.

Various devices developed for exercising the human body have required the lifting or moving of weights, the use of elastic members, a multiplicity of complex moving parts, permanency of installation, the assistance of second parties, and other disadvantageous conditions. In addition, the prior devices have not solved the problem of adapting one apparatus to many different types of exercises and varied physiques.

Much of the energy expended in violent muscular contractions in the lifting of great weights or in prolonged movement of the body using prior exercising devices is ineffective in strengthening body muscles. Many health authorities have urged exercises of short duration with the fiber lengths of the muscles remaining constant (isometric contractions) as the most effective and safest method of building muscle strength.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a safe, economical, durable and compact exercise device capable of affording the most efficient type of muscular development through isometric contractions.

Another object of this invention is to provide an exerciser whereby individuals who for medical reasons must avoid disturbances of the metabolic, respiratory and circulatory systems can safely maintain their normal bodily muscle tone. Thus, short isometric muscular contractions provided through use of the inventive exerciser safely allows cardiac case and the like to exercise and prevent atrophy of their bodies.

Another object of the invention is to provide an exerciser that can easily be adapted to fit the height of any person without the use of tools and without the need to rely on built-in and preselected extensions. The present apparatus can be simply adjusted to fit any physique.

A further object of the invention is to enable instantaneous adjustment of the device to any type of exercise, for muscles in any area of the body, and for use while standing, sitting or reclining.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a device that does not need to be adjusted to meet the strength of the individual. Once the relative positions of the members are chosen, all compensation for strength takes place in the muscles of the user. Thus a child or an athlete may use the present invention with equal reward.

The foregoing and further objects of the invention are achieved by providing a pair of end members, joined by a flexible nonelastic line, adapted to be held immobile by the hands and feet of a user. A sliding link looking unit on at least one of the members enables rapid adjustment of the line length to facilitate use of the exerciser by any person in a wide variety of exercises involving isometric muscular contractions.

These and further objects and advantages of the invention will be more readily understood when the following description is read in conjunction with the drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a View in perspective of the invention in use;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of one end member of an exerciser embodying the principles of the present invention;

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FIGURE 3 is a transverse sectional view of the exerciser taken along the line 33 of FIGURE '2 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 4 is a longitudinal sectional View of an exerciser taken along the line 44 of FIGURE 2 looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIGURE 5 illustrates another typical advantageous use of the inventive exerciser.

Referring to an illustrative embodiment of the invention in greater detail with particular reference to FIG- URE 1, one end member 10, shown 'in use as a hand gripped member in FIGURE 1 and as a foot held member in FIGURE 5, is formed by a hollow tube 11 provided with end caps 12. A line 13, preferably formed of nylon or the like, is attached to the member 10 in any appropriate manner as by being passed through an aperture 14 and knotted at its extremity.

The line 13 is also attached to a member 15, foot-held in FIGURE 1 and hand-held in FIGURE 5, through a slidable link locking unit comprising an eye 16 carrying a sliding link 17. Preferably the link 17 is formed with at least one inwardly facing protrusion 18 to narrow it and preclude its slippage from the eye 16. Initially the link 17 must be forced over the end of the eye 16.

Referring to FIGURES 1 to 4, the line 13 passes from the member 10 through the eye 16 under the link 17 and then back through the eye 16 over the sliding link to lock the line 13 to the member 15. The greater the pull exerted on the line 13, the greater the effectiveness of the sliding link locking arrangement. Yet to vary the length of the line 13 between the members 10 and 15, the line need only be slackened to enable the link 17 to slide down the eye 16 and the line may be suitably adjusted in length. A knot 13a on the free end of the line 13 prevents detachment of the line from the member 15.

The base member 15 in a typical embodiment shown in the drawings is formed by a metal frame 19 bridged by cross plates 20 which serve as foot pieces while adding rigidity to the member. The eye 16 is formed by a suitably bent metal bar 16a attached to the underside of the cross plates 20 and running parallel to the side members of the frame 19. A reinforcing member 21 connecting the frame sides adds further rigidity to the member 15.

As best shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, the member 15 is preferably shaped to provide handles 22 at its extremities. Grips 23 on these handles facilitate gripping of the member 15, as shown in FIGURE 5.

In one typical use of the inventive exerciser, the per son exercising grasps the member 10 while placing his feet upon the member 15 as shown in FIGURE 1. Force is exerted upwardly upon the member 10 against the line 13 which is securely locked at an appropriate location to the member 15, thus causing isometric contractions of the muscles.

In another typical use of the inventive exerciser, shown in FIGURE 5, the handles 22 are grasped behind the head and the toes are curled over the member 10 with the line 13 behind the body. With the knees slightly bent and the pelvis tilted and locked, the arms are forced toward each other by flexing the muscles including the biceps against the resistance of the frame member 15. At the same time, the entire body is pressed upwardly extending the muscles, including the triceps, in an effort to snap the line 13, which of course is impossible. The arms, legs, hips, pelvis, shoulder and thoracic regions of the upper and lower chest and back as well as the side and abdominal muscles are all involved. The extensors and flexors are actually worked together as are the biceps and triceps of the upper arm. In this manner the en- 3 tire musculature is strengthened and developed simultaneously in one quick exercise.

Many other exercises can be performed by varying the relative positions of the two members with respect to each other and to parts of the body. To adjust the position of the member 15 along the line to perform a desired exercise, only slight downward pressure on the sliding link 17 with a slack line 13 releases the link looking unit. When the desired distance between the members is reached, a strain on the line 13 will cause the sliding link 17 to clamp the line 13 against the eye 16 thus locking it at that position.

It will be understood that the above-described embodiment of the invention is illustrative only and modifications thereof will occur to those skilled in the art. For

example, the hand and foot held members may be dissimilar as shown, or both may be provided with handles.

Further, the sliding link locking unit may be provided on either member. Therefore, the invention is not to be limited to the specific apparatus disclosed herein but vis to be defined by the appended claims.

We claim:

1. An exerciser comprising a bar, a generally flat member, a substantially nonelastic and flexible elongated member, means on the bar fastening the flexible member to the bar, means on the flat member fastening the flexible member to the flat member, foot supporting portions incorporated in the flat member on both sides of the fastening means thereon, two handles on the flat member respectively extending from the two foot supporting portions, and one of the fastening means including a device to engage and lock the flexible member thereto at desired points selected along its length to facilitate rapid adjustment of the distance between the bar and the flat member.

2. An exerciser as defined in claim 1, wherein the device to engage and lock the flexible member includes an eye and means to lock the flexible member to the eye.

3. An exerciser as defined in claim 1, wherein the device to engage and hold the flexible nonelastic member includes a sliding link locking unit, said locking unit including an eye and a sliding link fitting over the eye to clamp and lock the flexible member passing around the link and through the eye.

4. An exerciser according to claim 3, wherein the sliding link is narrowed at an intermediate point to prevent its slippage from the eye.

References Cited in the tile of this patent FOREIGN PATENTS 

